You've got nothing to lose, says Renae

The West Australian News

Fresh from being crowned Miss Universe Australia last week, Perth model *Renae Ayris * has dished out advice to other hopeful WA beauties who are looking to apply for the pageant next year.

Official registrations for the 2013 Miss Universe WA open later this year and the 21-year-old *Connolly * beauty, who admitted to being nervous about entering the contest, strongly encouraged other girls to put aside their doubts and "give it a go".

"I ended up telling myself I've got nothing to lose, and look where I am now," Ayris told * _AAA _ *. "I never pictured myself being crowned Miss Australia. The girls who are entering next year could be where I am now, so you never know if you don't enter."

Ayris said the Miss Universe WA program, run by Pink Tank Events, which was formed by high-profile *Perth *couple *Sophia * *and * *Troy Barbagallo *, is among the best of its kind in the country.

"Troy and Sophia give you so much guidance as to what you have to do," she said. "We have such an advantage over the other States because I think they don't get any of that (support)."

Ayris said her boyfriend of six years, *Sam Doyle * - a fly-in fly-out mine worker - was "overwhelmed but proud" of his girlfriend winning the 2012 Miss Universe Australia crown.

"I think he's even more overwhelmed than me," she laughed. "He's very supportive. Obviously, with my modelling, he's already seen a bit of my face around, so he's used to that."